Product Description

For more than twenty years, Joseph "Big Joey" Massino ran what was called the largest criminal network in the U.S., employing over two hundred and fifty made men and untold numbers of associates. The Bonanno family was responsible for over thirty murders, even killing a dozen of its own members to enforce discipline and settle scores. He would be brought down by Salvatore "Good Looking Sal" Vitale, the underboss who was not only Massino's closest and most trusted friend, but also his brother-in-law. In the end, facing the death penalty and the prospect of leaving his family penniless, Massino started talking to the FBI - the first Mafia Godfather to break the sacred code of omerta, and the end of a centuries-old tradition.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #95177 in Books
• Published on: 2007-06-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780786018932
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Customer Reviews

A great read
Great read, goes into many areas that have up in till now been unknown. Gives insight to Massino's family life, his Crime life and how he got where he did.
This book gives you a feel for all the players, the FBI, the US Attorneys,the defense lawyers. It goes into the history of the crime families, how they started and how the Bonnono's were looked down on and how Joseph put them back into power. Good background in his crew and the men that ratted him out. Lots of facts, author met with Massio's family and also gets information from a unknown source. Anyone interested in true crime stories or Mob stories will love this book.

There Is No Trust Within The Mob
Joe Massino used the name of the Massino family instead of the Bonanno family because he felt Joe Bonanno sold out the mob by writing a tell-tale book that spilled family secrets. The Massino family suffered the embarrassment of being infiltrated by Joseph Pistone (Donnie Brasco). Massino's paranoia led him to mark for assassination those who had knowledge of the hits he had orchestrated throughout the years. The book centers around three captains that Massino had marked for assassination, and whose deaths among others, led to a trial in which he was sentenced to prison for life. The old mafia rules of not singing to the authorities apparently doesn't hold today as several members told what they knew regarding Massino's role in order to seek a lighter sentence. A virtual treasure trove of information was provided to the authorities as the dominoes began to fall. Massino, himself, fell in line with the other informants in order to avoid a death sentence. The book includes some nasty photos of mob hits in addition to some cartoonish photos of mobsters with bulging bellies who attended too many meetings where pasta was a staple. The book includes a number of mob hits in addition to a significant section devoted to the trial of Joseph Massino. The book clearly illustrates loyalty within the mob is in the past tense. Massino certainly knew that as he dispatched anyone who knew about his sordid past. The author did a fine job with the book, and fans of crime books will enjoy it.

An Excellent Resource on La Casa Nostra!
Joseph Massino and others known to be involved in New York and New Jersey's Mafia families. This book is the real truth behind organized families (mostly Italian Catholic) just as in the Godfather movies and Sopranos television series. For those fans of the Sopranos who can't get enough of organized crime families will be shocked to read about the carnage in this book. I had run out of space writing all the names of those murdered or died in the blank pages of the book. I live in New Jersey and most of those names ring a familiar bell especially the Pizza Connection murders that was publicized all over television during the 1980s on the local news. Before he ran for President, Rudy Giuliani was going after the New York City crime families and of course, Leona Helmsley, for tax evasion. Giuliani himself an Italian Catholic New Yorker is barely mentioned in this book but he was partly responsible for the downfall of the families. Granted, this book is not for the squeamish. It's graphic and the pictures show the depravity and seriousness of the murders committed by Sammy the Bull Gravano and Joseph Massino. The pictures also show a close-knit family oriented activities like weddings and celebrations. Behind those photos lurks the darkness and evil, the organized crime families' downfall was brought upon by their pride, their several errors, and mistakes that often destroy businesses. Greed and pride are two big causes of the downfall. This book is about Joseph Massinio probably the last of the godfathers who survived only to go to prison with his family heartbroken and distraught over the family's betrayal. The book also has an index of those who survived and what has become of them. I think an index would have been a good idea. The book is well-written and researched but I wished an index and a family tree explaining the roles of the godfathers, associates, and others involved in organized crimes would have been useful too but it's a great book.